Ventilating apparatus



March 12, 1963 Filed Dec. 28, 1959 .A. D. HA'Y VENTILATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. #rnmz 0. H4)

a v/M March 12, 1963 A. D. HAY 3,080,695

VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. 407/04 2 15 1) March 12, 1933 A. D. HAY

VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

3,080,695 VENTlLATlNG APPARATUS Arthur D. inlay, Princeton, NJ, assignor to McLean Engineering Laboratories Filed Dec. 28, 1%9, Ser. No. 862,312 13 Claims. (Cl. 55-471?) My invention relates to ventilating apparatus, more particularly to a ventilating unit particularly adapted to deliver cooling air through a long rectangularly shaped orifice having a narrow transverse dimension and with uniform distribution of the air being delivered.

In one application utilizing air moving equipment which requires filtering, it is necessary to provide a unit to fit within a volume having a trough-like transverse cross section, narrower at the bottom than the top, the area into which the air is delivered being comparatively long compared to its transverse imension. Such equipment must provide adequate air passage for the air to approach and enter this volume and pass through the filters and must be capable of providing uniform distribution of the cooling air leaving the air moving equipment. This uniform ilow is partially blocked at the outlet by a trough carrying wires, the density of which decrease evenly from one end of the equipment, including circuitry to be cooled, to the other. The cabinetwith which the air cooling equipment is to be used may support cards or panels carrying circuits and electrical elements which cards or panels may be supported above the discharge of the air cooling unit in vertical position to permit cooling air to pass over and between the panels. The wires comprise a formed cable, the separate wires being taken off along the length of the cable to individually connect to the panels and elements supported thereon. Thus, the number of wires blocking the discharge becomes less and less along the length of the cable from its entrance to the cabinet to the last card or panel. It is desirable also that such equipment be made as a complete unit which can be readily installed, and to have a structure lending itself to mass production with inexpensive tools, such structure, fore);- ampie, being of molded plastic parts.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved ventilating apparatus capable of delivering filtered air in required volume and with uniform distribution through a relatively long and narrow discharge opening.

It is another object of my invention to provide such an apparatus which must fit within an elongated trough shaped volume and which is capable of providing adequate air passage for air to approach and enter this volume and pass through filters into the blower compartments and out through the discharge opening.

A still further object of my invention is to provide such an apparatus which can be made as a unit and has a structure which facilitates mass production with simple manufactoring equipment.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a supporting unit including an elongated trough-like frame closed at the bottom and at its ends and supporting a plurality of filters along the open sides thereof. The frame is narrower at the bottom than the top and has a length suificient to furnish air over the circuit cards mounted above. The trough-like frame supports within it a plurality of successively positioned housings in which are mounted fans preferably of the squirrel cage type although other types of fans can be used. These fans are driven by a common shaft attached to a motor mounted at one end of the assembly. The fans or impeller wheels are concen- "a vertical wall having an orifice or intake communicating with the fan, and has an oppositely disposed upwardly in- 2 clined wall, the upper end of the wall being spaced further from the vertical wall than the bottom end. Associated with each of the fans is a deilector or scroll-like element providing a throat for directing air radially and axially from the upper discharge end of each of the housings. The apparatus is mounted as a unit in the bottom of the cabinet where cooling is to take place and directs air upwardly through, in eifect, an elongated rectangular outlet or discharge opening having comparatively narrow transverse sections. The trough supporting the wire assembly is made of expanded metal which has about 75% open area to permit the cooling air to pass up through the wires.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view in perspective showing a ventilating apparatus made according to my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation in perspective of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, looking from the motor end;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation in'perspective taken from the other end of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view in perspective and taken from the motor end of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 7 is a' side elevation of a modified fan and its housing and showing the air flow path. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1-4, inclusive, apparatus made according to myinvention includes an elongated frame having a bottom panel 1d and a plurality of spaced struts ll inclined outwardly from the bottom toward,

7 the top of the framen Angled supports 12 tie the frame together at the top, the ends of the frame beingclosed by the end plates 13.

Mounted at the top and bottom of the frame and on the outside thereof are positioned U-shaped channel members 14, 14 and 15, 15 which slidably receive therebetween the filters 16. The filters extend along the entire length of the frame although in the figures of the drawing some have been removed to show details of construction. Thus, all of the air which enters the fan housings through the open side of the frame, passes through filters.

These filters are placed along the full height and length of the assembly on both sides in order to give proper filter area and result in proper air velocity through filters. They are placed in such a position that they lie within the volume assigned for the assembly yet do not unduly interfere with the performance of the apparatus by requiring that the scrolls be made too small. The filters also pro vide sufiicient area of approach for air entering the filters so as notto restrict the flow. p 1 I In accordance with my invention, I provide a plurality of housings 26 within the elongated frame. These hous I ings consist of the two portions 22 and 23, the portion 23'being inclined away from and upwardly of the housing and oppositely disposed to the intakes 21 formed in the vertical wall of the portion 22 of the housing, the portion 22 receiving therewithin the squirrel-type cage fans 25. The inclined portion 23 provides even air flow by permitting axial flow of the air as well as radial flow. These housings are designed to permit the air to enter the inlet of each impeller or fan without undue objection. The blower housings act as diaphragms between the high and low pressure air, and are designed according to my invention so that air leaving them is evenly distributed from side to side and end to end to cover the entire area the circuit elements to be cooled and mounted over the Patented Mar. 12, 1963' motor. Because the available cross-sectional area within the tea-cup shaped cross-section of the housings is small, a standard scroll or blower housing design cannot be used. Because the contour of the scrolls cannot be designed to move radially away from the blower wheel as rapidly as possible for maximum ethciency as one moves in the direction of rotation of the wheel, compensation must be made in scroll structure. To compensate for this difficulty, the scroll is made to open up axially to permit air to move away from the lower wheel axially as well as radially. This results in air delivery performance which gains space and also provides uni form air distribution of the cards or circuit assembly mounted within the cabinet being cooled.

All of the fans or impellers are mounted on a common shaft 26, mounted in the bearings 27 and driven by motor 23 which is mounted on resilient shock mounts 30 and 31 to reduce vibration. Each of the housings is provided with the scroll or lip 32 for directing air in the proper direction.

It is noted that the impeller wheels are concentrated toward the end of the blower assembly where the greatest concentration of wire obstructs air flow. Each blower housing acts as a diaphragm between high and low pres sure air areas and each is designed so that air leaving is evenly distributed from side to side and end to end thus covering the entire area beneath the equipment to be cooled.

In FIG. 7, I show a modification of the impeller or fan structure. This impeller 25', in the form of a frustum of a cone, is tapered inwardly towards its shaft on the opposite side from the intake. The result is to obtain a modified flow of the air increasing the axial flow of air. The scroll 32 is slightly modified also in this modification. 1

What is claimed is: 7

11A ventilating apparatus including an elongated trough-like frame having a closed bottom and wider at the top than the bottom, the ends of said frame being closed and the sides open, a plurality of blower housings mounted within said frame in adjacent and successive positions,veach of said housings having an opening in one side thereof and a wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined away from said opening, each of said housings being open at the top thereof, the top having an area larger than the bottom area of said housings, squirrel cage fans mounted within said housings adjacent said openings and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said inclined wall portion.

:2. A ventilating apparatus including an elongated trough-like frame having a closed bottom, a plurality of blower housings mounted within said frame in adjacent and successive positions, each of said housings having an opening in one side thereof and a wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined away from 'said opening, each of said housings being open at the top thereof, the top having an area larger than the bottom area of said housings, fans mounted within said housings adjacent said openings and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said inclined wall portion.

3. A ventilating apparatus including an elongated trough-like frame having a closed bottom and open sides, a plurality of blower housingsmounted within said frame in contacting adjacent and successive positions, each of said housings having an opening in one side thereof and a wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined away from said opening, each of said housings being open at the top thereof, the top having an area larger than the bottom area of said housings, squirrel cage fans mounted within said housings adjacent said openings and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said wall porticn, and filters mounted in the open sides of said frame.

ings, fans mounted within said housings adjacent said openings and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said inclined wall portion.

5. A ventilating apparatus including a supporting unit having a closed bottom and ends and open sides, a plurality of blower housings mounted within said supporting unit in adjacent and successive positions, each of said housings having an opening in one side thereof and a wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined upwardly and away from said opening, each of said housings being open at the top thereof and having an area larger at the top than the bottom area of said housings, fans mounted within said housings adjacent said openings and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said wall portion, and filter units positioned along' the open sides of the supporting unit.

6. A ventilating apparatus including an elongated trough-like frame having a closed bottom and wider at the top than the bottom, the ends of said frame being closed and the sides open, a plurality of blower housings mounted within said frame in abutting and successive positions, each of said housings having a vertical wall having an orifice opening therein and a wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined upwardly and away from said opening, each of said housings being open at the top thereof and having an area larger at the top than the bottom area of said housings, squirrel cage fans mounted within said housings adjacent said openings and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said wall portion, and a scroll partially surrounding each of said fans but open on the inside side of each fan. I

7. A ventilating apparatus including an elongated trough-like frame having a closed bottom and wider at the top than the bottom, the ends of said frame being closed and the sides open, a plurality of blower housings mounted within said frame in abutting and successive positions, each of said housings having a vertical wall, said wall having an orifice opening therein and a wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined upwardly and away from said opening, each of said housings being open at the top thereof and having an area larger at the top than the bottom area of said housings, squirrel cage fans mounted within said housings adjacent said openings and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said wall portion, and a scroll partially surrounding each of said fans but open on the inside side of each fan, said frame being provided with oppositely disposed channels on each of the open sides of said frame, and filter units supported in said channels.

8. A ventilating apparatus including a blower housing, said housing having an opening in one side thereof and a wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined away from said opening, said housing being open at the top thereof, the top having an area larger than the bottom area of said housing, a fan mounted within said housing adjacent said opening and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said inclined wall portion whereby said air is distributed substantially uniformly through the larger open area.

9. A ventilating apparatus including a blower housing,

said housing having a vertical wall, said wall having an orifice opening therein and a wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined upwardly and away from said opening, said housing being open at the top thereof and having an area larger at the 'top than the bottom area of said housing, a squirrel cage fan mounted within said housing adjacent said opening and communicating therewith and adapted-to discharge air radially and axially against said wall portion whereby said air is distributed substantially uniformly through the larger open area, and a scroll within said housing and partially surrounding said fan and open on the side opposite said opening.

10. A ventilating apparatus including an elongated frame, a plurality of adjacent abutting housings mounted in said frame, each of said housings having an opening in one side wall thereof and a wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined upwardly and away from said opening, each of said housings beingopen at the top thereof and having an area larger at the top than the bottom area of said housing, a fan mounted within said housing adjacent said opening and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said inclined wall portion whereby said air is distributed substantially uniformly through the larger open area, said fan having a frusto conical shape with its smaller end extending away from said opening.

11. A ventilating apparatus including an elongated trough-like frame having a closed bottom and being wider at the top than the bottom, the ends of said frame being closed and the sides open, a plurality of blower housings mounted within said frame in abutting and successive positions, each of said housings having a vertical wall extending transversely of the frame and having an orifice opening therein andsa wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined upwardly and away from said opening, each of said housings being open at the top thereof and having an area larger at the top than the bottom area of said housings, the vertical wallof one housing being oppositely disposed to the upwardly inclined wall of the adjacent housing, fans mounted within said housings adjacent said openings and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said wall portion, and a scroll partially surrounding each of said fans and open on the inside side of said fan.

12. A ventilating apparatus including an elongated trough-like frame having a closed bottom and being wider at the top than the bottom, the ends of said frame being closed and the sides open, a plurality of blower housings mounted within said frame in abutting and successive positions, each of said housings having a vertical wall extending transversely of the frame and having an orifice opening therein and a wall portion oppositely disposed tosaid opening and inclined upwardly and away from said opening, each of said housings being open at the top thereof and having an area larger at the top than the bottom area of said housings, the vertical wall of one housing being oppositely disposed to the upwardly inclined wall of the adjacent housing, fans mounted within said housings adjacent said openings and communicating there with and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said wall portion, and a scroll partially surrounding each of said fans and open on the inside side of said fan, a motor within said trough-like frame at one end thereof and an enclosure therefor, all of said fans being coupled to said motor.

13. A ventilating apparatus including an elongated trough-like frame having a closed bottom and being wider at the top than the bottom, the ends of said frame being closed and the sides open, a plurality of blower housings mounted within said frame in abutting and successive positions, each of said housings having a vertical wall extending transversely of the frame and having an orifice opening therein and a wall portion oppositely disposed to said opening and inclined upwardly and away from said opening, each of said housings being open at the top thereof and having an area larger at the top than the bottom area of said housings, the vertical wall of one housingbeing oppositely disposed to the upwardly inclined wall of the adjacent housing, fans mounted within said housings adjacent said openings and communicating therewith and adapted to discharge air radially and axially against said wall portion, and a scroll partially surrounding each of said fans and open on the inside side of said fan, a common shaft mounting all of said fans within said housings, a motor supported by sai frame and coupled to said common shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A VENTILATING APPARATUS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED TROUGH-LIKE FRAME HAVING A CLOSED BOTTOM AND WIDER AT THE TOP THAN THE BOTTOM, THE ENDS OF SAID FRAME BEING CLOSED AND THE SIDES OPEN, A PLURALITY OF BLOWER HOUSINGS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID FRAME IN ADJACENT AND SUCCESSIVE POSITIONS, EACH OF SAID HOUSINGS HAVING AN OPENING IN ONE SIDE THEREOF AND A WALL PORTION OPPOSITELY DISPOSED TO SAID OPENING AND INCLINED AWAY FROM SAID OPENING, EACH OF SAID HOUSINGS BEING OPEN AT THE TOP THEREOF, THE TOP HAVING AN AREA LARGER THAN THE BOTTOM AREA OF SAID HOUSINGS, SQUIRREL CAGE FANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSINGS ADJACENT SAID OPENINGS AND COMMUNICATING THEREWITH AND ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE AIR RADIALLY AND AXIALLY AGAINST SAID INCLINED WALL PORTION. 